Yilwatda Warns Against Disrupting North’s Economic Renaissance Agenda

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has reaffirmed that the strategic investments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in Northern Nigeria are deliberately designed to reposition the region as a major economic powerhouse and a development hub for West and Central Africa.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Professor Yilwatda said the scale and intentionality of the Federal Government’s interventions demonstrate a clear commitment to transforming the North into a centre of productivity, commerce, education, and infrastructure-driven growth.

He noted that the North’s vast economic potential and strategic geographic location place it in a unique position to serve as a gateway to neighbouring countries including Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic. According to him, ongoing investments in roads, rail, agriculture, energy, and education are expected to stimulate local economies, deepen regional trade, and strengthen Nigeria’s influence across the sub-region.

“The vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Northern Nigeria goes beyond politics. It is a deliberate economic and developmental strategy aimed at unlocking the enormous potential of the region. Within the lifetime of this administration, the North will emerge as a strong economic hub powered by infrastructure, human capital development, and strategic investments,” he stated.

Professor Yilwatda highlighted key projects driving the transformation agenda, including the rehabilitation and expansion of major road networks linking Northern states to commercial centres, ongoing rail modernisation projects connecting Northern cities to ports and southern markets, investments in energy infrastructure, and the development of agricultural value chains through irrigation, mechanisation, and agro-processing initiatives.

He explained that the projects form part of a coordinated national strategy to integrate Northern Nigeria into regional and global value chains, while positioning the region to benefit significantly from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

On education, the APC National Chairman described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a landmark initiative that will expand access to tertiary education for youths across the North. He said the programme is designed to remove financial barriers that have historically limited educational opportunities for many families.

“Education remains the backbone of sustainable development. Through NELFUND, young people in the North now have a genuine pathway to higher education regardless of their socio-economic background. This policy will redefine the future of the region by building a skilled and competitive workforce,” he added.

Professor Yilwatda also identified agriculture as central to the administration’s economic revitalisation strategy, noting that improved security measures and targeted support for farmers are gradually restoring confidence in rural communities and boosting productivity.

According to him, the Federal Government is prioritising food security through large-scale farming initiatives, livestock development and modern ranching systems, access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses, as well as the revitalisation of dams and irrigation infrastructure. These interventions, he said, will strengthen Nigeria’s food supply chain and position the North as a leading exporter of agricultural products within the region.

The APC National Chairman called on traditional rulers, political leaders, youth groups, business communities, and civil society organisations across the North to support the Tinubu administration in ensuring the success of the ongoing reforms and development programmes.

He warned against what he described as the activities of self-serving politicians whose personal ambitions could undermine the region’s long-term progress.

“This is a defining moment for the North and for Nigeria. We must not allow narrow personal interests to derail a historic opportunity for regional transformation. The future we seek requires unity, collective responsibility, and sustained commitment,” he said.

Professor Yilwatda further described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a resilient democrat whose political journey has consistently reflected courage, vision, and commitment to national development since the struggle against military rule during the Abacha era.

He also criticised opposition figures for what he termed a lack of cohesion and credibility, arguing that their inability to manage internal party affairs raises doubts about their capacity to govern the country effectively.

“Their actions have exposed them as unreliable. They move from one political platform to another whenever their ambitions are not realised, leaving crisis and instability behind. Nigerians cannot afford to hand over the nation’s future to such individuals,” he stated.

Professor Yilwatda reiterated that the Tinubu administration’s Northern development agenda remains unprecedented in scope and impact, assuring Nigerians that the APC is committed to delivering tangible results that will guarantee lasting prosperity for the region and the country at large.

“The North is on the path to renewal. With visionary leadership, sustained support, and collective effort, we will build a region that stands tall not only within Nigeria, but across Africa,” he affirmed.